Ask Me About Truth

One key way to overcome the ego, Kriyananda explains, is to practice the presence of God — to see Him doing everything, both good and bad, through you.

Questions include:

You talked about the ways of getting rid of the ego as being willpower, self-offering… are there other ways?

How about in daily, moment-to-moment life, to become more free?

On the spiritual path, people need to take responsibility for what comes to them — how do you reconcile this with the practice of seeing God as the Doer?

It's not that we ignore evil necessarily, it's just that we don't concentrate on it?

You mentioned the practice of keeping your attention at the point between the eyebrows — is that good to do all of the time?

Spirituality begins when you start thinking: "What is true? How can I discover what life is all about?"

The goal of spirituality, Swami Kriyananda explains further, is to become free of the ego — and he talks about the ways to do so.

Many people are interested in spirituality, but don't know where to start. Do you have any advice for these people?

Can you recommend any books?

I've heard it said that "It is a blessing to be born into a religion but a misfortune to die in one." What does that mean?

If a seeker comes across a teacher, how can they know if he is a true teacher?

What is the role of the guru?

What qualities of the Higher Self are there? — So we can know when we are reaching it?

What is the best way to pray?

How can you overcome the ego?

Every attitude is self-reinforcing, Swami Kriyananda shows in this recording. Negative attitudes are wrong not because religions say they are wrong, but because they make us less happy. The best way to change an attitude is to change our own state of consciousness.

Questions include:

I'd like to ask you about the right attitudes in which to live. Many people have a fear of death, for example. How does one overcome that?

Is there more involved than just positive thinking?

How does one overcome judgment of others?

We want to fill children not just with knowledge, but with the ability to use that knowledge to help others, says Swami Kriyananda. That requires from the student a certain level of spiritual evolution.

Topics of discussion include the caste system in India, racial prejudice in America, the Education for Life education system founded by Swami Kriyananda, and the scale of organizations.

We can help everyone rise to their own natural level of perfection.

Questions include:

Among many challenges facing our education system is the question, Can you educate all children equally?

True teaching is individual, then — it has to relate to the level of consciousness of the individual student?

Do you think a smaller scale is the way of the future?

"If you could point to a single greatest accomplishment in your life, what would that be?" Swami Kriyananda talks about Yogananda's mission, his own role in helping to fulfill that mission, and shares advice for how to face any obstacle in life and still come out on top.

Questions include:

Can you describe Yogananda's mission?

Do you see yourself as having a mission?

Are there aspects of Yogananda's mission that you have not been able to accomplish?

What is the most important book that you've written?

If you could point to a single greatest accomplishment in your life, what would that be?

You've had so many challenges; how were you able to overcome them and keep your peace of mind?

The world is consciousness, and responds consciously to our intentions and energy. The law of magnetism operates automatically and can also be controlled at will.

Questions include:

Could you describe the law of magnetic attraction?

What you're describing sounds like it could be dangerous.

It sounds like the law operates automatically, but it is possible to operate it consciously?

Can inspiration be drawn by will power?

I read a book, Talks with Great Composers, and Handel's Messiah seems to have come in a similar way.

When you receive an inspiration, does it come fully formed?

For people just starting out and trying to develop these things, what can they do?

Would it help to mix with a certain type of people?

Whatever energy you give out has to come back — that is one way to explain the law of karma. In this question and answer session, also discussed is how to neutralize and overcome karma.

Questions include:

Can you explain to us the law of karma and how it works?

Will someone who is striving for success automatically experience failure as often as he experiences success?

Why would some yogis suggest not to enjoy anything?

How do we overcome the emotionally reactive process in ourselves?

A master who reaches a breathless state — he's not holding his breath, is he?

Releasing attachment releases pain associated with that attachment?

What is the astral body?

Does the astral body have a shape or form?

Is the astral body the same as the aura?

Can an aura be expanded?

How should we see karma? And can we do anything to change it?

Questions include:

Some people will speak of karma as a burden, and will say, "It's my destiny, I can't avoid it." A fatalistic approach. Is that correct?

What is dharma?

What does the word "freedom" mean to you?

How do we get our energy to flow upward?

What is free will?

To create a strong aura, is there a technique or method you would recommend?

You can't change karma that was created in the past, but you can change how that karma affects you.

You were discussing karma earlier; could you explain family karma, group karma?

Is there any way to alleviate group karma?

How could Germany offset their karma from World War II?

In turbulent times of atomic warfare, the only truly reliable bomb shelter is within?

On a smaller scale, when we're trying to go in a direction that's different from our family karma, for example, how can we make our own way?

Do animals have karma?

Freedom from karma means what? What would it mean in the case of a master like Yogananda?

Can a non-enlightened person take on the karma of others?

Are karma and magnetism related?

Religion is the form — of rituals and beliefs — and spirituality is your relationship with God.

How would you differentiate between religion and spirituality?

Does God have a particular form?

How did reading Autobiography of a Yogi change your life?

What does intuition mean to you?

How can we develop intuition?